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As humans, we naturally despise any illness that comes our way. It disrupts our plans and in the most severe cases may even lead to death.
Outside of faith in God, sicknesses are seen as a curse that needs to be eliminated.
Yet, according to St. John Paul II, getting sick can be turned into a profound moment of encounter with God.
He reflects on the frustration that sickness can bring into our lives in his message for the first annual World Day of the Sick in 1992.
However, when viewed in the light of faith, an illness can bring us closer to God.
While it is certainly natural to despise any illness, the witness of the saints challenges us to view it as a gift that can be united to the cross of Jesus Christ.
When our illness is offered to God, then and only then can we find meaning in the pain and suffering and see the light in the darkness.
